Major exhibition Frida Kahlo Drents Museum

In the spring of 2021 the Drents Museum (Assen, the Netherlands) the will be presenting the work of one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century: Frida Kahlo (1907-1954). Masterpieces by the Mexican artist will be on view in Assen from March through June 2021. The core of the exhibition consists of works from the collection of the Museo Dolores Olmedo in Mexico City. In addition to paintings, drawings and photographs from the Mexican collection will also be on view.

Frida KahloKahlo is without doubt one of the best-known and most popular artists in the world. Her turbulent life was shaped by two important factors: health and love. A devastating bus crash resulted in her suffering great pain and undergoing numerous operations throughout her life. Her great love for art, her husband the artist Diego Rivera, and Mexico and its indigenous culture gave her the strength to carry on. She painted self-portraits interwoven with symbolism reflecting her private life. The tempestuous relationship with Rivera and her broken body are often focal in her art.

Global Icon Through her turbulent life, unusual lifestyle, and impressive works of art, Frida Kahlo has grown into a global icon. She broke all the taboos of her time and became a cult figure. Her art and lifestyle have inspired musicians, including Coldplay, Beyoncé, and Amy Winehouse, and fashion designers, such as Jean Paul Gaultier.

Key Works in Kahlo’s Oeuvre The Museo Dolores Olmedo holds the world’s leading collection of Frida Kahlo’s work. It was assembled by the Mexican businesswoman and philanthropist Dolores Olmedo (1908-2002), who upon the advice of her friend Diego Rivera began buying Kahlo and Rivera’s work from 1955. The collection boasts key pieces from Kahlo’s oeuvre, including Henry Ford Hospital (1932), The Broken Column (1944), and Self-Portrait with Small Monkey (1945). These masterpieces will be on view in the Drents Museum in Assen in the spring of 2021. An extensive regional programme of activities is being developed for the show. More on the Olmedo collection: www.museodoloresolmedo.org.mx.

A Long Cherished Wish The exhibition devoted to Frida Kahlo is the sixth in the series exploring International Realism in the Drents Museum, including The Soviet Myth (2012-2013), Kazimir Malevich (2014/2015), and The American Dream (2017-2018). Director Harry Tupan: ‘In the light of our pillar of international Realism, we have long harboured the wish of bringing Frida Kahlo’s work to Assen. A dream that has now come true.